ARTICLE 34 F&A Alternative Proteins Edition April 2023 “The challenge is already present, with the forecast of 10 billion human beings on the planet in 2050 and the resulting need for proteins. The production of alternative proteins, including insects, is essential today and will be a central element of our food system. This is why, from the start, we have envisioned our project around a holistic model....” THE IMPACT OF THE INSECT INDUSTRY ON SUSTAINABLE PROTEIN PRODUCTION Alex Diana Aquaculture Product Manager Innovafeed A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL FEED INGREDIENTS In recent years, the insect industry has emerged as a sustainable alternative to conventional animal feed ingredients which are associated with environmental concerns, such as deforestation, overfishing, and greenhouse gas emissions. Insects, such as black soldier flies that we farm at Innovafeed, are efficient at converting organic waste into high-quality protein and fat, making them promising feed ingredients for livestock, companion animals, and aquaculture. The use of insects in animal feed can reduce the environmental impact of the animal nutrition industry in several ways. First, insects can be reared on agricultural by-products streams; secondly, insects have a lower carbon footprint than traditional feed sources because they require less land, water, and energy to be produced; and third, insects can be fed on a vegetable substrate as they are naturally adapted to consume a plant-based diet in their natural environment, and feeding them a vegetable substrate allows them to express their natural feeding behavior, leading to better growth and development. Moreover, by converting these waste streams into high-quality protein and fat, insects can help to close the nutrient loop and reduce the amount of organic waste that goes to landfill. Lastly, insects can improve the gut health of the animals, which can lead to improved feed efficiency and health due to the changes in the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota. In the near future, insect feed ingredients will also help to complement the ingredient basket for feed formulators and will fill up the protein gap that will exist when the world’s population will be reaching 10 billion people. In conclusion, the insect industry has the potential to contribute significantly to the sustainability of the animal nutrition industry by providing a sustainable and nutritious source of functional feed ingredients. This is also Innovafeed’s goal, to provide a natural and sustainable solution to feed tomorrow’s world and address the strain on natural resources. Producing more yet producing better is one of the key challenges and strategies to prepare for the decades to come.
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